HOUSE FIRE: Dog Wakes Man, Saves His Life

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A Des Moines man is without a home after fire destroyed his early Tuesday morning.

Fire crews were called to the home at 4701 Southeast 5th Street around 1:30 a.m. When they arrived the home was fully engulfed. The homeowner told firefighters his dog woke him up and alerted him to the fire.

The man tried to put the flames out with water, but they quickly grew. He got out of the house, but went back in when he realized he didn't have his dog.

He did eventually make it out and called 911 from a neighbor’s house. The man suffered minor burns and smoke inhalation. He was treated by fire medics but refused to go to the hospital.

Captain Steve Brown with the Des Moines Fire Department says at this time it is not clear what caused the fire but the heat was not turned on in the home so they are investigating whether an alternative source of heat may have started the fire.

The home is a total loss.

Officials say there were no working smoke detectors in the home and the man’s dog saved his life by waking him. The dog did escape the fire.